Costs to Play USA - NEW Details for 2026/2027

We strive to provide the highest value competitive soccer in the area.  As a not-for-profit we focus all of our fees are applied for the betterment of the teams and the players.  No single individual or group owns the USA Soccer Club ... as such, we are dedicated to keeping our operational costs as low as possible while offering the highest quality total soccer experience on the lakeshore.

We are excited this year because, while the world around us is so expensive and other clubs are increasing their family costs and reducing flexibility, we are doing the opposite. Although this page is about the team fees, it is much more than that.  The future of USA Soccer is exciting.  A lot of change is happening and your club is embracing it.  Over the past year your teams have collected competitive achievements, seen your players develop and gain personal successes (whether large or small), and your club has been intentional about learning from its past and planning for a more impactful future.

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We are pleased to highlight the positive changes that we will bring into the 2026/2027 competition year, starting with the team fees.

USA Base Team Fees

We have been able to minimize any increases to the base team fees (no more than $30) for all age groups and some were actually reduced.

Ways to Pay

We have two ways to manage the fees:

1) Pay team fees in full through our online TeamSnap registration platform

2) Pay team fees over time with 18 smaller bi-weekly payments at no additonal cost - also online through TeamSnap.

Access to Elevation Camps

Based on feedback from our families and coaches, we are changing our approach to our Summer and Winter Elevation Camps.

With everyone's busy lives, it is an increasing challenge for our families to participate in the ‘camp’ style approach.  So … we are bringing the "camp" to our teams.  Over the summer and winter teams will get 4 hours of training each season (8 in total) that fit your individual team’s needs and schedule the best.

This approach will ensure that all of USA players gain from the Elevated training opportunities and it will make the programming more efficient - for our families and our coaches.

Access to Tournaments

Tournament participation support is exanding to all USA teams.

Our Premier and Premier Academy teams will still have State Cup or Junior State Cup (or equivalent tournament) fees coordinated by the club.  Each elite team will have access to participation in both the fall and the spring seasons.

NEW - all of our Select teams will also have the amount equivalent to the State Cup fee coordinated by the club for tournament participation.  Since all of our teams now play in at least one tournament and the financial management is usually “clunky”, this expansion will bring efficiency to the process for everyone.

Streamlining of Program Fees

We are rolling the cost of Summer and Winter Elevation Camp and Tournament/State Cup participation into a single fee structure.

To date, we have been the only club in the area that has forced families to handle the payment of added fees individually within their teams.  All of our teams now participate in tournaments and some form of training during the off season - and pay the fees separately beyond the team fees.  Combining these routine opportunities into a standard payment structure and streamlined management approach allows the USA program fees to be reduced for our families (e.g., last year, Summer Elevation Camp was $90 and paid on its own - this year, it will be $40 because it is bundled).

From a practical perspective for USA families is the total fee package will be the annual base team fee (actually reduced for 2026/27) + the bundled program/tournament package.

Even with the bundled team fee package added, USA overall fees are at or below (by a lot) those of our closest large club competitor.

In-season Training Opportunities - no added cost!

The In-Season Goalie Training Program will still be provided at no charge to our players - AND it is being to better meet the needs of our keepers and teams.

Focused technical training for Premier and Premier Academy Teams - our historic approach of adding a 3rd day of practice will be replaced with extended training opportunities within each team's normal practice schedule.  Technical Team staff will join the teams to run tailored sessions during elongated practice sessions each week during the season.

NEW - Unified Technical Development Approach

Each “field-size” group (e.g., 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11) will have a dedicated member of the USA Technical Team to work directly with team coaching staff as ‘Field-size Specialists’.  As part of the routine practice sessions of each ‘field-size’ group each 'Field-size Specialist' will provide coaching mentorship, session planning, game assessment, and practice session support.

The support will be tailored to the unique principles for each field size/roster size.  Key development stages will be reinforced.  Player transition along the competitive trajectory will be enhanced.  The Specialists will collaborate with each other to foster a ‘linked’ approach as our teams move along their competitive trajectory.

NEW - Expanded Levels of Competition

USA is joining the N1 League.  The N1 League is new for this year and is a step beyond Premier for our top teams.  Progression beyond Premier and the Great Lakes Premier League into the N1 League is now team-specific and merit based.  In other words, while other clubs must ‘buy in’ to ECNL-RL and are mandated to place teams (whether they have competitive rosters or not), USA will place our teams into national pool play based on their actual readiness and because that level is what is next for them along the competitive trajectory.

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Differences Between Team Fees

Our team fees are age group and league specific.  As teams get older, the team fees tend to increase.  This is largely due to the costs imposed on the club by the state and league organizations and the need for increased coaching credentials and coach investment. There are several additional overhead costs that the club faces with the MSPSP and N1 League teams and that the teams benefit from (e.g., higher league fees, increased costs for team coaches, additional training space fees, etc.).

Simply put, the increased level of competition dictates the commitment of more time, energy, and financial support from the club and some of that must be reflected in our team fees.  However, we do not deviate from our fundamental belief that finances should not limit a child's participation.  As such, our financial aid program is extended fully across all of our players, regardless of the league in which their team plays.

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Universal Payment Plan Payment Option

The USA Board of Directors remains steadfast in its embracing of our legacy - a legacy of practical approaches, high value programming, and fiscal responsibility/accessibility.  So, with reality of increased player fees, the board is also implementing the option for automatic payment plans for all levels of play.  It is hoped that by spreading the increased costs out over a longer time, families can adequately budget and lessen the impact of the financial investment in their children's soccer development.  Within the online registration process, at checkout, families may chose to pay the entire balance or initiate a payment plan.  With the payment plan an initial payment must be made and then the balance is spread across multiple bi-weekly payments.  Beyond this, the club actively supports our private financial aid program for those that can show need.  In the end, we still do not want financial realities to get in the way of a USA Soccer experience.

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Financial Support

We recognize the cost of playing club soccer is a serious consideration. USA feels strongly that finances must not limit opportunities to be part of our family of teams.  As such, we have a financial support program that includes extended installment plans and direct financial aid grants.  Pursuing an extended installment plan (beyond the universal installment plan) is our first line of aid.  We hope that simply spreading the cost out over a longer-term period of time will help our families manage the team fees while fully supporting their team's operations.  Beyond that, direct financial aid can be pursued where the cost of team fees may be partially reduced or, in some cases, waived entirely.  Processing of financial support occurs after team commitment, full player registration, and completion of the first (non-refundable) team fee universal installment plan payment.  Details of financial support will be available from team coaches during the player registration process.  Families requesting direct financial aid will be required to provide specific proof of need through written explanation and provision of supporting documentation requested by the club.  The extension of finanical support grants are at the descretion of the club Board of Directors and there is no guarantee of any award.

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Refunds

Upon commitment to a team, no refunds are provided.  Any consideration for a refund will require significant justification and will not be supported if it is being requested due to voluntary separation from a team.  Any refunds are at the discretion of the USA Board of Directors. Refunds will only be considered for individuals eliminated from team participation due to injury/illness or the unplanned dissolution of a team (refunds will only be given to those shown to have no active part in the dissolution). Any refund amounts are defined by the Board based on the individual circumstances (e.g., impact to remainder of team, costs incurred by the club, etc.).

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